Elderly warned about mobility con
Tuesday, 22nd September 2009.
A warning has gone out to people in the Haverhill area about mobility aid companies getting salesmen into their homes under false pretences.
Suffolk trading standards officers are warning the county's residents there are some mobility aid companies telephoning elderly local residents to make appointments for sales representatives to call.
They give the impression that the reason for the visit is to discuss mobility allowances, when actually it cons a consumer into accepting an appointment, expecting to see a representative from social services, or occupational therapy.
The visit then turns out to be a sales representative from a mobility company attempting to sell an expensive and often unnecessary item or appliance.
In one case an 81-year-old woman, who agreed to an appointment after receiving persistent telephone calls from a person offering to discuss mobility allowances, found the salesman who turned up spent several hours in her home attempting to sell expensive and unnecessary products to her.
Fortunately, the victim did not part with any cash.
Trading standards are urging Suffolk residents that if they have any concerns over recent telephone calls they or their elderly relatives have received or appointments they have agreed upon, to contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
Suffolk trading standards officers are warning the county's residents there are some mobility aid companies telephoning elderly local residents to make appointments for sales representatives to call.
They give the impression that the reason for the visit is to discuss mobility allowances, when actually it cons a consumer into accepting an appointment, expecting to see a representative from social services, or occupational therapy.
The visit then turns out to be a sales representative from a mobility company attempting to sell an expensive and often unnecessary item or appliance.
In one case an 81-year-old woman, who agreed to an appointment after receiving persistent telephone calls from a person offering to discuss mobility allowances, found the salesman who turned up spent several hours in her home attempting to sell expensive and unnecessary products to her.
Fortunately, the victim did not part with any cash.
Trading standards are urging Suffolk residents that if they have any concerns over recent telephone calls they or their elderly relatives have received or appointments they have agreed upon, to contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
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